If you're looking to explore the heart of Joburg's City Centre, take the Gautrain to Park Station and venture out from there. We recommend exploring the City Centre from here with a Joburg local or guide. We've put together a list of tours that might appeal to you; read more here .
Park Station acts as a springboard from which to explore surrounding areas and you'll find there's plenty to see and enjoy in all directions. Make the wonderful Wits Art Museum (WAM) a stop on your itinerary, and don't leave without visiting Braamfontein's most playful precinct , complete with a rooftop beach bar. From historical sightseeing to market shopping, street art, and more, use our guide to Park Station and surrounds to plan your next day trip to Joburg's City Centre, Braamfontein, and surrounds.
Park Station – The gateway to Johannesburg
The Gautrain has its own station here, entirely separated from the relentlessly busy Park Station complex, and connects to two Gautrain midi-bus routes – the J1 Parktown and the J2 CBD – which both run on weekdays only.
The Park Station Gautrain station sits on the doorstep of studenty Braamfontein. It's one of Joburg’s best examples of inner-city regeneration where you’ll find colourful street art, cafès, bars, and shops that attract a youthful, alternative crowd.
On the other side of the railway bridge from Park Station is the historic Johannesburg City Centre where the streets offer an eye-catching mix of architectural styles. This part of the city is packed with history and heritage and is an interesting place to explore on foot with numerous pedestrianised city streets, including sections of Main Street, Bank City, Fox Street, and Kerk Street (all of which can be reached from the Gautrain station via the J2 CBD midi-bus on weekdays).
Getting around from Park Station
Braamfontein is within a very easy 10-minute walking distance of Park Station but if you're venturing out alone we recommend making use of an Uber or Bolt. The Johannesburg City Centre is best reached in 10 to 15 minutes on the J2 CBD bus which stops near FNB Bank City, Gandhi Square, and the Main Street Mining District. On weekends when the Gautrain midi-bus is not operating we once again recommend taking an Uber or Bolt to Library Square Gardens.
Like any big city, you should be vigilant when walking in Braamfontein and the Joburg City Centre. Pay attention to what is going on around you and heed the warnings about phone snatching by avoiding using your phone on the street. Don't flash your valuables around and be mindful of pickpockets. Avoid walking across the railway bridges into the City Centre by taking the Gautrain midi-bus from the station.
Braamfontein's Play Precinct
The property development and creative brainchild of Adam Levy, Play Braam is the custodian of four intersecting blocks in Braamfontein that over the years have brought vibrancy and an artistic sensibility to this beloved neighbourhood. Bordering Joburg's City Centre and joined to Newtown by the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Braamfontein is student central and a district that has long been popular with the cool, creative crowd.
The properties under Play Braam's purview span Juta, Smit, and De Beer Streets. The Playground (which houses the City Beach Club and rooftop basketball court) is at 73 Juta Street, Braamfontein.
CITY BEACH CLUB
Flops aren't mandatory at this beach club in the heart of Braamfontein. It's wild, sandy (yes, literally), and sophisticated. Look out over sweeping views of Joburg while you sink your toes into the sand. It's a chilled break away from the busy city below. No under-21s.
THE PLAYGROUND
The recreational area of 73 Juta's The Playground has been revamped, adding more adult fun and games to the line-up. Gone is the market experience and in its place is a refined and pared-down menu served up by five food vendors, cool details, and a super list of activities that will be refreshed monthly. These activities include Giant Connect Four, table tennis, a 360-camera experience, and various table and board games. And don't forget the ever-popular Paint and Sip sessions in the craft corner.
ROOFTOP BASKETBALL COURT
This sky-high basketball court is a Joburg first, painted with African sunset-inspired hues by graffiti artist Seth Pimental. To play three-a-side or experience the glass floor observation deck 50m above ground, you can book the court for 45-minute sessions (max 15 people) on Saturdays while The Playground is open.
Art and history in the city
CONSTITUTION HILL
A 15-minute walk north of Park Station in Braamfontein is Constitution Hill, a national heritage landmark that is home to one of the best museums in the country, as well as the South African Constitutional Court. Once a colonial fort and later a prison, the complex now houses an excellent and powerful museum detailing the lives of the many political prisoners who were incarcerated here. Museum tickets also include a guided tour of the complex.
Take the J1 Parktown midi-bus (weekdays) to Constitution Hill.
